Route-indicator.



J. B. RHODES.

ROUTE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1911 Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 svweutoz JAY B. RHODES, 0F KAIJAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

nournrnnrcn'ron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

Application filed April 4, 1911. Serial No. 618,912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY B. 'Rnonns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Route-Indicators, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to improvements in odometers.

My present invention relates to improvements in odometers of the class shown in my application for Letters Patent, filed Nov. 9th, 1910, Serial Number 591,485 and is a modification and in some respects an improvement upon the structure there illustrated.

The main objects of this invention are:

lFirst; to provide an improved odometer adapted ,to display route, key indicia corresponding to route key indicia of a route book as the route progresses. Second; to provide in an odometer having a station or route key indicia member, a set back means whichsimultaneously actuates the station or route key indicia member. Third; to provide an improved odometer adapted for use with a route book which is quickly adjusted or set as the route is traversed. Fourth; to provide'an improved odometer which is simple and economical in structure and which is not likely to get out of repair.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objectsof my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims. A structure whichis a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated infthe accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specificatiomin which:

Figure I isa detail perspective view of a structure embodyingthe features of my invention, the same being shown as mounted uFpon a steering post of a motor vehicle.

ig. II is a plan or front view of the structure shown in Fig. I, the supporting bracket being omitted. Fig. III is'a horizontal section taken on a line corresponding toline 3-3 of Fig. IV. Fig. IV is a detail vertical section taken on a line correspondin to line 44 of Fig. III. Fig.'V is a detai section through the driving connection taken on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. III. 'Fig. V1 is a detail section taken on a on its rests or supports.

line corresponding to line 6-6 of Fig. IV. Fig. VII is a detail section of the supporting clamp. Fig. VIII is a plan view of the station or route key indicia member 35. Fig. IX is an illustration of the part of the route book which I preferably use in connection with my improved odometer here described.

In the drawings, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction ofthe little I arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the casing consists of the cup like body portion 1, the

open end of which is closed bythe window 2. The window is supported on the edge of the body 1 and on the ring 3. The upper edge of the ring 3 is flanged outwardly as shown in Fig. IV. The window is secured in position by means of the ring 4 which is sleeved upon the body and provided with an inwardly projecting bead-like flange at its upper end, adapted to overlap the edge of the window. The disk like distance indicia member 6 is supported by the rests or supports 7. The lower edge of the ring 3 rests upon this indicia member 6 so that the ring serves to retain the member 6 in place The member 6 forms ahorizontal partition across the casmg. a

-Supported within the casing by means of the bracket 8 mounted on the bottom of the casing (see Fig. IV) is a bearing 9. Ar ranged in, this bearing is a driven worm gear 10, having a hub-like bearing member 11. The underside of the gear 10 is pro:

vided with a bearing surface coacting with the upper end of the bearing 9. A shaft 12 for the distance indicia index 13 is arranged through the gear 10, the shaft being provided with a collar 14 and the gear with a seat 15 for this collar. On the lower endof the shaft isga nut. 16 which secures the gear to the shaft 7 and retains the parts in position in thebearing, the nut being arranged to overlap the bearing as appears in Fig. IV.

Mounted on the shaft above the gear 10 is a heart shaped cam 17 (see Figs. III and IV). The hub18 .of the distance indicia index 13 is connected to this cam. This hub is preferably chambered, as illustrated, a

spring 19 being arranged within the charm her and retained by the nut 20, so that the cam is held in friction driving engagement v chamber.

outward. Owing to the shape of the cam' with the gear 10. The hub 18 is arranged through the distance indicia member 6, the index 13 being above. The indicia member is provided with suitable distance indicia as clearly appears in Fig. II, the indicia shown being live miles, divided into tenths.

the plunger engaging cam at any point swings it around to its initial position.

The driving connection for-"the gear 10 consists of the worm 26 mounted in a suitable bearing bracket 27 in the casing. This worm has a gear28 thereon, arranged to mesh with the worm 29 on the shaft 30. The shaft 30 is arranged in a bearing 31 carried by .the bottom oi the casing as illustrated in Fig. V. The shaft 30 is provided with a suitable coupling member 32, adapted to. coact with coupling member 33 on the driving shaft 34.

I have designed my improved odometer .for use in connection with a route book having route directions therein, a ortion of a route being illustrated in Fig. 'I the illustration being a portion of the route from Cincinnati, Ohio to Indianapolis, Ind. It will be noted that the route directions are provided with route key indicia as O, l, 2, 3-, 4, 5, these I designate forconvenience as stations. It will be understood that they are not stations in the sense of stops but-are points in the route where route directions are required. -I provide in this connection a route key or station indicia member 35, which has consecutive route key" indicia thereon corresponding to the key indicia of the route book, as shown in Fig. VIII. This route key or station indicia member 35 is revolubly mounted on the underside of the distance indicia member 6. The indicia member 6 is provided with a window 36 4 through which the route key indicia are successively displayed. 'The window in the structure illustrated being adapted to'dis play two of the route key indicia at one time. I associate with this window, indicia indicating that one of the route key indicia displayed is the last station or direction key. indicia and the other the next. The station or route key indicia member is actuated with a step by step movement from the plunger 21. The route key indiciamem- ,ber 85 is provided with a ratchet wheel 37 and the plunger with a coacting pawl 38 ingly, so that when the index 13 reaches this index or pointer, the operator is thus notified that another station or direction point has been reached.

In my application forpatent referred to,

I'illustrate a signal which has been here omitted, as my present improvements do not relate thereto. At each station or directlon point the plunger 21 is operated to return the mileage index 13 to zero, which through the mechanism described advances the route key indicia member one step so that the route key indicia are successively displayed. The route key indicia in the structure illustrated are consecutive numerals, 0 to 39 be ing shown. To prevent the operator advancing the route key indicia member more thanone step when the mileage index has been returned to zero, I provide a detent 40 for the pawl 38-, the detent being pivoted at 41 on the cam. 17 and yieldingly supported by the spring 42, so that it lies in the path of the pawl when the cam is in its initial position (see Fig. HI). .With the detent thus positioned when plunger 31 is actuated the detent engages the pawl and prevents it acting upon the ratchet 87. When the cam is mov d from its initial or zero 'positian, the detent is swung out of its engaging position. The pawl 38 is supported on an arm 43 on the plunger,the coiled spring 44. being connected to the plunger, the end of the pin 24 being looped for convenience of attachment. A stop 45 is provided for the pawl.-

It is sometimes desirable to operate the station indicia member more than once, or

a number of times "in order to bring it up to a given point in the-route. To permit this I provide a trip 46 for the detent the trip being pivoted at 47 so that its finger piece 4&8 projects through the casing and so that it may be swung against the member 40 to push it out of its engaging or operative position. The spring 49 holds this trip normally out of engaging position.

In order to have a register of the continuous mileage traveled, I provide an odometer 50, whichl. illustrate in conye'ntional form and a trip odometer 51. mounted within the casing andconnected by thesha'lt't 52 and the gears 53 and 54 to the worm-shaft 30. This shaft is provided with a clutch member 55' coacting with the clutch member 5601s the shaft 57 of the These are eter or guide on the steering post 62 ofa vehicle and provide for this purpose an improved clamp consisting of a pair of arms (33 which are secured to the bracket (54 by the pivot 65. These arms are provided with hooks which engage the end links of the clamping chain 66. The clamp ing bolt 6.7 is arranged through the arm 63.

is in its zero By this simple means I secure a clamp which has a very secure grip on the post,

is easily attached and can be adjusted to posts of different diameters.

As in my application for patent referred to the odometer is instantly set back to the zero point by a single thrust movement and the proper station or key indicia number displayed. The pointer is easily adjusted and it is not necessary to stop the vehicle for this adjustment.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in a simple embodiment which however, can be greatly varied. I have not attempted' to illustrate such variations in structure as they will no doubt be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention relates.

Having thus" described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a 1. The combination of a distance indicia 'member, a distance indicia index, a route key indicia member, a set back for said index comprising a heart-shaped cam, a plunger coacting with said cam, arratche't for said route key indicia member, a, coacting pawl on said plunger, a pawl detent pivotally mounted on said cam, a spring for said detent arranged to support it in position to engage said pawl when said index position and a trip for said detent. i

2. The combination of a distance indicia member, a distance indicia index, a route key indicia member, a set back for said indexcomprising a'heart-sha e'd cam, a plunger coacting'with said cam, a ratchet for said route key indicia member, a coacting pawl on said plunger, a pawl detent pivotally mounted on said cam, and a spring for said detent arranged to supportit in position to engage said pawl when said index is in its zero position.

3. In an odometer, the combination of a driven distance member, a route key indicia member, a set back for said driven distance member comprising a heart-shaped cam, a plunger coacting with said cam, a ratchet for said route key indicia member, a coacting pawl on said plunger a pawl detent to engage said pawl when said driven distance member is in its zero position and a trip for said detent.

In an odometer the combination of a driven distance member, a route key indicia member, a set backfor said driven distance member comprising a heart-shaped cam, a plunger coacting with said cam, a ratchet for said route key indicia member, a coacting pawl on said plunger, and a pawl detent arranged to engage said pawl when said driven distance member is in-its zero position.

.5. An odometer comprising distance indicating means, a setback means therefor, a seriesof route indicia, means for success sively displaying said route indicia, by the operation of said set back means'comprising a pawl and, ratchet, a detent for said pawl positionedgto be operative when the detent indicating means is at its zero position, and a trip for said detent.

6. An odometer comprising distance indicating means, a setback means therefor,"

a series of route indicia, means for successively displaying said route indicia, by the operation of said set back means comprising a pawl and ratchet, and a detent for said pawl positionedto be operative when the detent indicating means is at its zero position.

7. In an odometer, a set back mechanism comprising a heart-shaped cam member, a plunger coacting with said cam, a station or route key indicia member, a ratchet ac tuating means therefor and a pawl on said plunger coacting with said ratchet, a pawl detent piyotally mounted on said cam, a spring for said detent arranged to yieldingly support it in position to engage said pawl when said index is in its zero position and a trip for said detent.

8. In an odometer, a set back mechanism. comprising a heart-shaped ca-m member, a plunger coacting with said cam, a station or route key indicia member, a ratchet actuating means therefor and a pawl on said plunger coacting with said ratchet, a pawl detent pivotally mounted on said cam and a spring for said detent arranged to yieldingly support it in position to engage said pawl when said index is in its zero position.

9. In an odometer the" combination of route indicia, an odometer set back comprising a plunger, meansfor successively displaying said route.indiciacomprising a ratchet, a coacting pawl on said plunger, a pawl detent arranged to engage said pawl when the odometer is at its zero position and a trip for said detent.

10. In an odometer tl'iecombination of. route indicia, an odometer set backu-comprising a plunger, means-for successively displaying, said route indicia comprising a ratchet, a coacting pawl on said plunger arid a pawl detent arranged to engage said pawl when the odometer is at its Zero position.

ll. The combination of a distance indicia member, a driven distance indicia index, a route key indicia member a set back mechanism for said distance indicia index, connections whereby said route key indicia member is actuated by the actuation of said set back mechanism, and means for auto matically rendering said route key indicia member actuating means inoperative when said distanceindicia index isin its zero position.

12. An odometer comprising a driven member, a set back means therefor, route indicia, connections whereby said route indicia are successively displayed-by the actuation of said set back means, and means for automatically rendering said route indicia actuating means inoperative when said driven member is in its zero position.

18. The combination of an odometer shaft, a disk-lik distance indicia member, a distance indicia index revolubly mounted on and having it'riction driving engagement with said shaft, a disk like route keyindicia member having a series of route key indicia thereon-revolubly mounted on the inner side of said distance indicia member, said distance indicia member being provided with an opening through which the route key in dic-ia are successively displayed, adapted to simultaneously display two of the indicia, there being indicia associated with said opening to indicate that one of the two indicia simultaneously displayed therein is the last route key indicia and another the next route key indicia, a route key pointer adjustably associated with said distance indi eia member and said indicia index, a set back means for said index, and connections whereby said station indicia member is actuated by the actuation of said set back means.

1-1. The combination of an odometer shaft, a disk-like distance indicia member, a distance indicia index, revolubly mounted on and having friction driving engagement with said shaft, a disk like route key indicia member havinga series of route key indicia thereon revolubly mounted on the inner side of said distance indicia member, said dis tance indicia member being provided with an opening through which the route key indicia are successively displayed adapted to simultaneously display two of the indicia, there being indicia associated with said opening to indicate that one of the two indicia simultaneously displayed therein is the last route key indicia and another the next route key indicia, a set back means for said index, and connections whereby said station indicia member is actuated by the actuation of said set back means.

15. An odometer comprising distance indicia, a distance indicia index, a series of route indicia, means for successively displaying said route indicia so that two successive indicia of the series'are simultaneously displayed, there being indicia associated with said route indicia to indicate that one of the two route indicia simultaneously displayed is the last route indicia and the other the next route indicia, and aroute 17. An odometer comprising a series of route indicia, and means for successively displaying said route indicia so that two successive indicia of the series are simultaneously displayed, there being indiciaas:

.sociated with said route indicia to indicate that one of the two route indicia simultaneously displayed is the last route indiciav and the other the next route indicia.

In witness whereof, I havp hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

JAY B. RHODES. [Ls] Witnesses L. G. GREENFIELD, MARGARET SHAW. 

